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Should the Celtics consider free agent J.R. Smith?
- Updated: July 23, 2016
3:55 PM ET
When asked last week what areas his team might target while finalizing roster construction, Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens said, “Shooting is always going to be a priority.”
The bad news for Boston: The remaining free-agent crop is thin on proven shooters. But there is one particularly polarizing name available: J.R. Smith.
Insider’s Kevin Pelton recently ranked Smith the No. 1 remaining free agent and, while addressing his market, wrote: “The question is whether Smith can find a suitor to force the Cavaliers to pay him what he wants. He doesn’t really make a lot of sense for any of the teams with significant cap space remaining, though if the Boston Celtics renounce the rights to Tyler Zeller they could offer Smith a one-year deal worth nearly $12 million to supply shooting they need.”
You can probably guess how most Celtics fans reacted: Michael Scott “No!” GIFs and pleas to a higher power requesting the team abstain from pursuing Smith.
But is the idea of chasing Smith really that absurd?
Boston has an obvious need for shooting, and everyone in the organization has been looking for more impact talent. The move would weaken a primary Eastern Conference rival. The Celtics wouldn’t mortgage any of their future flexibility with a short-term deal. And Danny Ainge would gain a golfing buddy.
For all his warts, …
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